My top 10 picks for Monteverde, all kid-friendly:
- Cerro Pinocho: a beautiful secluded place with the most amazing views, especially around sunset
- El Trapiche Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour: you learn so much and get to make your own sugar cane candy and try so many parts of the processes
- 100% Aventura Hanging Bridges: unique because you get to climb up through a ficus tree and overall great tour and guides
- Sky Adventures Monteverde Sky Tram: preferable to the Sky Adventures Arenal Sky Tram since it goes up through clouds where there is a delicious cafe and a short trail
- Hummingbird Cafe: delicious food and drinks with a free wildlife experience
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens: the insect exhibit was a fantastic plus, the guides are so knowledgeable, and you can return multiple times during your trip
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: unique because there is a trail along the continental divide, and right next to the Hummingbird Cafe
- Bat Jungle: unique experience, guides are very knowledgeable and teach you a lot about bats
- Selvatura Sloth Sanctuary: unique experience to get up close with a lot of sloths
- Equus Monteverde: unbeatable countryside views, plus a sugar cane tour at the end (kids 5+)
Honorable mentions:
- Frog Pond: very cool if you haven’t been to a different frog exhibit yet, the guides are very knowledgeable and let you visit during the day and again at night
- Orchid Garden: very knowledgeable guides will teach you a lot about orchids
- El Tigre Waterfalls Zipline Bike: a very unique experience for the thrillseeker (not kid-friendly)
Restaurant picks:
- El Bosque Restaurant: great food at a great price, card games available, outdoor seating by a river, and a trail in the back
- Soda La Amistad: large portion sizes, typical food, hole-in-the-wall, home-style meal, affordable prices